March 1, 1999

CAREER CRIMINAL SUFFERS CAREER SET-BACK:
ROBBER CONVICTED ON FOUR COUNTS

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the conviction of a Far Rockaway man for two attempted robberies, one robbery and the possession of stolen property in a forty-eight-hour crime spree that took place on May 22 and 23, 1997 in the 113th precinct in South Jamaica.

District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Mance Carter of 56-10 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway, Queens. He was convicted of the attempted armed robberies of two cab drivers, the armed robbery of a third cab driver and possession of stolen property. The defendant was convicted after a two week jury trial held before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Flaherty who will impose sentence on March 22, 1999. The jury deliberated for less than 45 minutes before convicting the defendant who faces a maximum term of 25 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Brown said, "The conviction of Mance Carter puts an end to his repeated attempts to refine and perfect his criminal abilities. The neighborhood will not miss this entrepreneur."

According to the testimony at trial, on May 22nd 1997, the defendant demanded money from a cab driver at the end of his ride, threatening the driver by intimating that he had a gun. The cab driver fled. Within an hour, the defendant hailed another cab and again threatened the driver, demanding money and showing him a gun. When the second driver refused his demands, they struggled and the defendant ran away, leaving a wallet in the cab. The two drivers reported the crimes and the second turned in the recovered wallet. Police began an investigation and contacted the owner of the wallet. The next day the defendant, apparently, having learned from his mistakes, successfully robbed a third cab driver who reported the crime to his supervisor. All three cab drivers identified the suspect. Pictures of the defendant using an ATM card from the stolen wallet at a Jamaica Savings Bank were also entered in evidence.

Assistant District Attorney Theresa Smith of the District Attorney's Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Charles A. Testagrossa, tried the case.